Morning journal and courier., 1887-07-12
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. TERRIBLE SCENES ATSEA When The Merrimac Crashed Ashore. THE LOSS OF THE MYSTERY. Twenty Two Drowned In
 The Wreck. ELEVATED TRAINS TIED UP. Poison In A Cheap Flan-
 mel Suit.
ELEVATED TRAINS TIED UP
THE WRECK OF THE MERRIIAC.

THE WRECK OF THE MERRIMAC. l nrtvep Ashore on a Clear Moonlisht | Nieht-Drunken Sailors Plunder the l Baggage of the Passengers-Terrtble Scenes on the Disabled Vessel
 HALIFAX, N. S., July 1.-The story of | the wreck of the steamer Merrlmae as told | by several passengers who arrived here to- night is one of the most remarkable in the history of marine disasters. The people on l the steamer escaped terrible fate after be- | ing driven ashore on a clear night with the
 moon and stars shining brightly, but accord l ing to their own assertions their baggage
 was rifed and number of valuable articles | stolen while tee owners were on deck seeking l to save their lives The passengers declare ! it as their conviction that these depredations were committed by members of the crew, who, immediately after the ship struck, se- cuaed a considerable quantity of liquor, be- came drunk and created a disgraceful dss- turbanee. The facts connected with the dis aster are related as follows: Nearly all the passengers were sound asleep when suddenly about 12 30 o'clock Saturday night they were awakened by half dozen shrin whistles, following by several heavy shocks and tear-
 ing, grinding sounds as though the vessel
 was forcing her way over a rocky bottom.
 The female passengers ran screaming into
 the saloon, while the men hurried out on
 deck half dressed, to learn the extent of the
 accident. Cadtain Crowell, the pilot and
 two officers were on deck when she struck,
 and, so far as learned, could give no satis- factory reason why they were so close to the coast. The weather was perfectly clear and the light on Little Hope Island could be seen five hundred yards from the vessel. It has been asserted that a thick fog pre- vailed, but this is denied by the passengers interviewed who state that the light could be plainly eeen. The steamer was going at full speed when she struck and forced her way over the rocks for fully five minutes. There were number of heavy shocks and the vessel tossed over fearfully that those on deck had to hold for their lives or they would have been dashed into the water. By the time she came to stop all on board were out of their berths, the women and children being huddled together in the cabin with terror on their faces and sending piercing rcreams for help. Most of the men managed to get their clothes on, but the women and children were too excit ed to dress themselves and when they were taken from the steamer nearly all were only half clad.
 It was while this scene was being enacted that the pillaging of the passengers luggage took place. Staterooms were entered, ,valises were torn or ripped open and any goods of value were removed. Jewelry, clothing and other articles disappeared and when their -owners after ascertaining that the vessel would not go down at once went to their rooms to secure their property they found 1t srrewn on the floor in promiscuous manner with the most valuable portion gone. One passenger stated that he lost about $500 worth in this way, while numberous others tel similar stories. At the same time number of the crew became suddenly drunk and got into disputes which ended only when compelled to abandon the steamer in the boats which had been launched by the aid of other hands. There was some delay in getting the boats af1oat. caused by poor management. but eventually everybody was safely removed from the vessel. The women and children numberingsixtywereput together in four boats, while the male passengers and crew put in three others boats and two life rafts. While assisting in launching boat Captain Crowley was dashed against the smokestack by 8 sudden lurgs of the vessel and had several ribs broken. He was rem dered completely helpless and had to be car ried to the hoat by which he afterwards reached the shore. Once on the water,
 which was quite smooth, the lady passengers
 became more calm, but the majority of
 them were prostrate from fear and quite ill.
 The four boats in which they had been
 placed started for the mainland in charge of
 the chief officers and they were landed in the
 morning easily at Catherine's river where
 they are now being cared for. After day | iOhf "a ma ha iS1Q hut
 without difficulty and danger. Life boats could not be put through the breakers and
 the only means of getting to shore was to
 have line run out to the steamer by which
 they could be drawn through the surf on
 rafts. The second officer managed to pilot one
 of the rafts through the breakers and rope
 was then run out by the
 assistance of which everybody was at last
 landed in safety. The men on the island and ladies and children on the mainland received
 the greatest attention and the complaints
 heard are on account of the slight bruises
 received and in regard to lost and stolen eff fects.
 The passengers who arrived this afternoon
 travelled by teams all last night and all day to-day. They are VIII. Hart and s. Faden
 of this city, A. M. Black of Montreal and F. s. Andrews of Boston. Hart had the mar
 rowest escape from death of any passenger,
 being thrown into the water while the boat
 was being launched and being rescued with considerable difficulty. He sustained severe gash on one of his legs and was also
 badly bruised. The remainder of the passengers are reported to have reached the mainland to-day. The steamer City of St. John will take them to Yarmouth They will be sent thence to Boston direct. The wreck is beliyed to have been caused by disordered compass, a statement to that effect having been made by the pilot shortly after the disaster. The cargo. taken from Halifax by the Merrimac consisted chiefly of insured for $9 400, of which s, 400 was in American companies. The balance was in
 local officers. The cargo taken from Prince Edward Island consisted of miscellaneous merchandise